Image processor and image processing method

Abstract

An image processor for implementing an image turning operation of turning a photographic image showing a person into an image having a painting effect comprises a face detection part for capturing an image and detecting an image of the face of a person shown in the image so captured, a determination part for determining whether or not the mage of the face of the person detected meets a predetermined criterion, and an image turning operation implementing part for implementing an image turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect based on the result of the determination. When the photographic image showing the person is turned into an image having a painting effect, whether or not the photographic image is turned into an image having a painting effect is determined in consideration of the position and size of the person in the photographic image, as well as orientations of the face and a line of sight of the person.

1 . An image processor comprising:
 a face detection unit for detecting an image of a face from an image;   a determination unit for determining whether or not the image of the face detected by the face detection unit meets a predetermined criterion; and   an image turning operation implementing unit for determining on an execution or non-execution of an image turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect based on the result of the determination made by the determination unit.   
     
     
         2 . The processor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the predetermined criterion includes a first criterion which determines whether or not the image of the face is encompassed within a predetermined area in the image, wherein   the determination unit determines that the image of the face does not meet the first criterion when the image of the face is not encompassed in the predetermined area, and wherein   the image turning operation implementing unit implements the turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect when the determination unit determines that the image of the face does not meet the first criterion.   
     
     
         3 . The image processor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the predetermined criterion includes a second criterion which determines whether or not the image of the face is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size, wherein   the determination unit determines that the image of the face does not meet the second criterion when the image of the face is not equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, and wherein   the image turning operation implementing unit implements the turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect when the determination unit determines that the image of the face does not meet the second criterion.   
     
     
         4 . The image processor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the predetermined criterion includes a third criterion which determines whether or not a direction in which the face and a line of sight are oriented is a front direction, wherein   the determination unit specifies orientations of the face and the line of sight of the person from the image of the face of the person and determines that the image of the face does not meet the third criterion when the direction in which either the face or the line of sight is oriented is not the front direction, and wherein   the image turning operation implementing unit implements the turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect when the determination unit determines that the image of the face does not meet the third criterion.   
     
     
         5 . The image processor according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the face detection unit detects an image of the face of a person.   
     
     
         6 . An image processor comprising:
 a face detection unit for detecting an image of a face from an image;   a determination unit for determining whether or not the image of the face detected by the face detection unit meets a predetermined criterion; and   an image turning operation implementing unit for implementing an image turning operation which changes the intensity of an image turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect based on the result of the determination made by the determination unit.   
     
     
         7 . The image processor according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the face detection unit detects an image of the face of a person.   
     
     
         8 . An image processor comprising:
 a face detection unit for detecting an image of a face from an image;   a determination unit for determining whether or not the image of the face detected by the face detection unit meets a predetermined criterion; and   an image turning operation implementing unit for implementing an image turning operation which changes the style of an image having a painting effect into which the image is turned as a result of an image turning operation based on the result of the determination made by the determination unit.   
     
     
         9 . The image processor according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the face detection unit detects an image of the face of a person.   
     
     
         10 . An image processing method comprising:
 a step for detecting an image of a face from an image;   a step for determining whether or not the image of the face detected meets a predetermined criterion; and   a step for determining on an execution or non-execution of an image turning operation depending on whether or not the image of the face meets the predetermined criterion and thereafter implementing the image turning operation of turning the image into an image having a painting effect when determining on execution of the image turning operation.